Copyright and Free Expression in the Age of Algorithms

Hosted by the Vereniging voor Auteursrecht (VvA), the Netherlands national group of ALAI, the 2026 Congress brings the global copyright community to The Hague for three days of debate, research and exchange.

The theme of the 2026 edition is Copyright and Free Expression in the Age of Algorithms. Copyright has always supported cultural expression by protecting creators while also safeguarding freedom of speech. But today, algorithms, AI systems and digital platforms shape how creative works are produced, shared and discovered, and this puts the traditional balance under pressure.

At the centre of this year’s congress is the question how to preserve room for free expression while ensuring that the economic and moral rights of creators remain respected. The programme explores this balance from many angles.